Systems and methods for using different beam widths for communications between balloons
First Claim
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1. A balloon, comprising:
- an RF communication system configured to transmit radio frequency (RF) signals at a plurality of different beam widths, wherein the plurality of different beam widths comprise at least three different beam widths; and
a control system configured to;
determine a vertical angle between the balloon and a second balloon;
determine a corresponding angle range for each beam width of the plurality of different beam widths by determining at least three non-overlapping angle ranges;
select a beam width from the plurality of different beam widths such that the vertical angle is within the corresponding angle range for the selected beam width; and
communicate with the second balloon by transmitting an RF signal with the selected beam width from the RF communication system of the balloon.
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Abstract
Example methods and systems for using radio frequency (RF) signals with different beam widths for purposes of balloon-to-balloon communication are described. One example method includes determining a vertical angle between a first balloon and a second balloon, if the vertical angle is below a threshold angle, communicating with the second balloon using a narrow beam RF signal from a communication system of the first balloon, and if the vertical angle is not below the threshold angle, communicating with the second balloon using a wide beam RF signal from the communication system of the first balloon.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A balloon, comprising:
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an RF communication system configured to transmit radio frequency (RF) signals at a plurality of different beam widths, wherein the plurality of different beam widths comprise at least three different beam widths; and a control system configured to; determine a vertical angle between the balloon and a second balloon; determine a corresponding angle range for each beam width of the plurality of different beam widths by determining at least three non-overlapping angle ranges; select a beam width from the plurality of different beam widths such that the vertical angle is within the corresponding angle range for the selected beam width; and communicate with the second balloon by transmitting an RF signal with the selected beam width from the RF communication system of the balloon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein instructions, that when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to perform functions comprising:
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determining a vertical angle between a first balloon and a second balloon; determining a corresponding angle range for each of a plurality of different beam widths, wherein a communication system of the first balloon is capable of transmitting RF signals at the plurality of different beam widths, wherein the plurality of different beam widths comprise at least three different beam widths, and wherein determining the corresponding angle range for each of the plurality of different beam widths comprises determining at least three non-overlapping angle ranges; selecting a beam width from the plurality of different beam widths such that the vertical angle is within the corresponding angle range for the selected beam width; and communicating with the second balloon by transmitting an RF signal with the selected beam width from the communication system of the first balloon. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system, comprising:
a plurality of balloons, each balloon comprising; an RF communication system configured to transmit radio frequency (RF) signals at a plurality of different beam widths, wherein the plurality of different beam widths comprise at least three different beam widths; and a control system configured to; determine a vertical angle between the balloon and a second balloon of the plurality of balloons; determine a corresponding angle range for each beam width of the plurality of different beam widths by determining at least three non-overlapping angle ranges; select a beam width from the plurality of different beam widths such that the vertical angle is within the corresponding angle range for the selected beam width; and communicate with the second balloon by transmitting an RF signal with the selected beam width from the RF communication system of the balloon. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
Specification